Wire stretcher



July 21, 1942.

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Q I l m] -I T\"\ l l l. l.. PATToN ET AL WIRE STRETCHER Filed oct.v 28, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l I )Wentorf A ttoruey July- 21, 1942. LL. PATTON ET An.

WIRE STRETCHER Filed Oct. 28, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Home] July 21,'1942.

l. l.. PATToN ET AL. 2,290,704

WIRE STRETCHER Filed oct. 28, 1941 4 sheets-sheet s do vBJ l A fiar/1e] Jly 21, 1942- l. L. PATTON ET AL I 2,290,704

WIRE STRETCHER Filed Oct. 28, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheei: 4

`A ttoruey Patented `luly 21 1942 stars 2 Claims.

The present invent-ion relates to newV and useful improvements in wire stretchers for use particularly by linemen on electric and telephone Wires, although it will be understood, of course, that the device may be used for any other purpose for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

A n important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, al stretcher of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be expeditiously engaged with the wire to be stretched at, any desired point Without the necessity of cutting said wire.

Another very important Object of the invention is` to provide a stretcher of the character described comprising a novel construction and arrangement. whereby the wire, may be stretched to` thedesiredV tightness without the necessity of re-setting the device.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a stretcher of the character set forth` comprising a unique construction and. arrangement of lever operatedjaws for gripping and releasing the wire.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a wire stretcher which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a sudy of the following specification, takenv in connection with, the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View looking at side of the device with the grippers in retracted position.

Figure 2 is a view substantially similar to Figure l, but with the grippers in forward position with a wire engaged therein.

Figure 3 is an elevational View, looking at the opposite side of the device with the grippers in retracted position.

Figure l is an elevational view similar to Figure 3, but with the grippers in forward position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation,

Figure 7 is a view in vertical longitudinal secprovided in the base l, for releasgbly securing the tion through one end portion of the device, talzen substantially on the line -l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the other end portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 5 8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially Qn the line 9--9- of Figure 1-.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line Ill--Iil of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment 0f the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated base I of suitable material. The forward end portion of the base I has mounted thereon a hook 2 for connection with an anchor. The sides of the base I have formed therein longitudinally spaced grooves or channels 3 and 4. l

Mounted on the rear end portion 0f the base I is what may be referred to as a stretching gripper which is designated generally by reference numeral 5. 'I'he gripper 5 comprises a carriage 6 which is slidable on the base I, said carriage including depending flanged side plates I which are slidably engaged in the grooves l. One side portionl of the carriage 6 is formed to provide a horizontally extending stationary or fixed jaw 8.

Pivotally mounted at 9 for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the rear end portion of the carriage 6 is an arm Il?. Pivotally mounted, as at II, cn an intermediate portion of the arm I-il above the statioriaryY jaw 8 and cooperable therewith is a movable jaw I2. Mounted in the forward end portion of the jaw I2 is an inwardly projecting pin I3. The pin I3 is operable ink an inclined slot Il! whichY is provided therefor in the carriage E for movably supporting the forward end of the jaw I2. A coil spring I5 is connected to the pivoted arm I-il for yieldingly urging said arm in a direction to close the jaw I2 on, the stationary jaw 8.

The base I has formed therein, at an intermediate point, a longitudinal slot it. Pivotally secured at I'I in the base I and operable in the slot It is a hand lever I8. Links I9 are pivot-ally connected, at one end, to the lever I8. Links 2i! are pivotally connected, at one end,- to the free end portion of the arm Ir'l. The other ends of thev links I9 and 2S are pivotally connected by a pin. 2! which is operable in an inclined slot 22 which is provided therefor in the forward portion4 of the carriage 6,

It will thus be seen that the lever I3 is adapted to pull the gripper 5 forwardly on the base I. The rear end portion of the base I has formed therein a longitudinal groove 23 (see Fig. 8.).. This groove 23 accommodates a spring 24 which is connected to the carriage for retracting said carriage. As .best seen in Figure 1D of the drawa suitable spring pressed latch or bolt 25 is carriage 6 against sliding movement when it is desired to open the jaw I2 for the insertion of a wire to be stretched, as at 26.

Operable on the forward portion of the base I is what may be referred to as a holding gripper which is designated generally by reference numeral 21. The gripper 21 includes a carriage 28 which is slidable longitudinally on the base I. The carriage 28 comprises depending flanged side plates 29 which are engaged in the grooves 3 for slidably securing said carriage in position. On one side, the carriage 28 is formed to provide a horizontal stationary jaw 38 which is aligned with the corresponding jaw 8 of the carriage Pivotally mounted at 3I on the rear end portion of the carriage 28 is a forwardly inclined arm 32. A movable jaw 33 has its rear end portion pivotally secured at 34 to 'an intermediate portion of the arm 32. The movable jaw 33 is positioned above the stationary jaw 33 and is cooperable therewith for clamping the wire 23 therebetween. A laterally projecting pin 35 supports the forward end of the movable jaw 33, said pin being operable in an inclined slot 33 which is provided therefor in the carriage 28.

Links 31 have one end portion pivotally connected to a lug or the like 38 on the forward portion of the base I. Links 33 have one end portion pivotally connected to the free end portion of the arm 32. The other ends of the links 31 and 33 are pivotally connected by a pin 4E! which is operable in a slot 4I provided therefor in the carriage 28.

Fixed on one side of the carriage 28 is an abutment 42. A push bar 43 for the carriage 28 has one end pivotally connected to the connected ends of the links I9 and 20 by the pin 2l. The free end of the bar 43 is engageabie with the abutment 42 for moving the gripper 21 forwardly in unison with the gripper 5. An elongated opening or slot 44 in the free end portion of the bar 43 accommodates a pin 45 which projects from the arm 32. As the arm 32 swings upwardly the pin 45 engages the upper wall of the opening or slot 44 and disengages the free end of the bar 43 from the abutment 42. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 7 of the drawings, the forward portion of th'e base I has formed longitudinally therein beneath the gripper 21 a slot 46. The slot 43 accommodates a coil spring 41 for retracting the gripper 21 when it is released by the bar 43.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the carriages and 21 are moved forwardly through the medium of the hand lever I3 and th'e former carriage is secured by the latch 25. The movable jaws I5 and 33 are manually opened for the insertion therebeneath of the wire to be stretched, as at 25. Handles or the like 48 are provided on the movable jaws to facilitate this. The latch 25 is then disengaged and the springs 24 and 41 retract the carriages B and 28. The lever I8 is now swung rearwardly for pulling the carriage 6 forwardly on the base I. This, of course, is accomplished through the links I9 and 28 and the arm I8. In this manner the arm I3 is swung forwardly land downwardly for closing the movable jaw I2 on the wire on the stationary jaw 8. At this time the free end of the bar 43 is engaged with the abutment 42. Thus, the carriage 28 is moved disengages the bar 43 from the abutment 42. When this occurs the carriage 28 is retracted by the coil spring 41 and the links 31 and 39, being pivotally anchored at 38, swing the arm 32 forwardly and downwardly in a manner to close the movable jaw 33 and again clamp the wire on the stationary jaw 3U. Thus, the wire is held. The lever IB is now reversed for moving the carriage 6 rearwardly under the influence of the spring 34. As the carriage 6 moves rearwardly, the movable jaw I2 rides freely on the wire 26. The bar 43 drops behind the abutment 42 and the foregoing operation is repeated.

It is believed that the many advantages of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire stretcher comprising a base, a stretching gripper slidable on said base, a hand lever pivotally mounted on the base and operatively connected to said stretching gripper, a holding gripper slidable on the base, means releasably connecting said holding gripper to the stretching gripper for actuation in one direction thereby, coacting movable and stationary jaws on the holding gripper for clamping a wire therebetween, means for opening the movable jaw when the holding gripper moves in said one direction on the base and for closing said movable jaw when the holding gripper moves in the opposite direction, means for disconnecting the holding gripper from the stretching gripper, and means for actuating said holding gripper in said opposite direction when it is disconnected from the stretching gripper.

2. A wire stretcher comprising an elongated base, a carriage slidable on said base, a stationary jaw on said carriage, an arm pivotally mounted on the carriage, a movable jaw on the arm cooperable with the stationary jaw for clamping a wire therebetween, a hand lever pivotally mounted on the base, links connecting the `arm to said lever for actuation thereby for opening and closing the movable jaw and for actuating the carriage on the base, another carriage slidable on the base, a stationary jaw on the secondnamed carriage, an arm pivotally mounted on said second-named carriage, a movable jaw on said arm cooperable with the stationary jaw for clamping the wire therebetween, a push bar pivotally connected to the links and engageable with th'e second-named carriage for moving same in unison with the first-named carriage in one direction, means on the second-named arm for disconnecting the push bar from the secondnamed carriage, means for actuating the secondnamed carriage in the opposite direction, and means connected to the base and to the secondnamed `arm for opening the second-named movable jaw when the second-named carriage moves in said one direction on the base and for closing said second-named movable jaw when the second-named carriage moves in the opposite direction on the base.

AMBROSE WM. HUGHEY. INMAN LESLIE PATTON. 

